Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancer. Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. The most common skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), so a tumor is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages.
Skin cancer treatment may be carried out by the dermatologist. However, depending on the area of the body affected by the cancer and the type of treatment needed you may also be referred to:
Surgery is an important treatment for many skin cancers. Small cancers can usually be removed under local anaesthetic. When larger tumours are removed, skin grafts are sometimes needed to replace the removed skin. A skin graft is a thin layer of healthy skin taken from another part of the body. This is done under either a local or general anaesthetic. In many cases, surgery is the only treatment needed.
Radiotherapy may be used instead of surgery and can be a very effective alternative to surgery for basal and squamous cell carcinomas. It is especially used in areas of the face where surgery might cause scarring. Radiotherapy may be given after surgery if there is a risk that some cancer cells may still be present. Sometimes it is used for tumours that have grown into the deeper layers of the skin.
Chemotherapy is not often used to treat skin cancers, but may be used occasionally. If it is used, it is usually as a cream applied directly to the cancer. More rarely, a course of chemotherapy is given by injection.
More than 90% with basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are completely cured.
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